HOw to make molokhia with chicken served over rice
Molokhia is an Arabic word for Jew's Mallow. It is so very simple to make and is probably one of the most popular dishes in the Arab world. Here in Jordan lokhia is made every week and they just love the flavor. The trick is preparing the leaves.
When cutting the leaves use a chopping knife with two handles like Nigella does on her cooking show. It is time consuming, but the leaves must be very very tiny. This is so it cooks quickly, once the chicken soup is prepared. The easiest way to prepare lokhia leaves is with a food grinder. 2 kilos (4.4 pounds) can be chopped in around 10 minutes with a meat processor. With the knife, plan on 2 hours.
For the Chicken soup
1 whole chicken
10 cups water
Salt and pepper to taste
1 whole onion, cut in half
2 cloves of garlic, smashed
6 whole cardamons, smashed
1 cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves
Molokhia Leaves Mixture
1 pound of molokhia leaves
1/4 cup ghee or butter
12 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
1 onion
1/2 teaspoon each pepper, cinnamon
1/4 cup of chopped coriander
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions:
Clean and cut the chicken into several pieces.
Place the chicken pieces in a pot with 10 cups of water.
Add in the onion, cinnamon stick, cardamons, bay leaves, salt and pepper and bring to the boil.
Remove the fat scum and reduce the heat and cook for one hour. Remove the chicken from the soup and place on a baking pan and brown the pieces in the oven on all sides.
Wash the Jew's Mallow leaves and spread them on a big cloth to dry.
When completely dry, chop finely using a special knife.
Mince half the garlic with the corriander leaves and the other half add to the mixture
Heat the ghee in a pan and saute the onion, garlic (1/2 not crushed with the corriander) in the hot oil. Add in the corriander and the lokhia leaves and saute for just a few mnutes.
Strain the broth and add the lokhia mixture to the broth. Add in the lemon juice and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the browned chicken back to the lokhia mixture and serve over rice.